Key moments

Stage summary01.09.2017

Already twice a stage winner at La Vuelta 2017, Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) made the most of a hard finale at Tomares to raise his arm a third time, on Thursday. The Italian rider dominated Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) and Soren Kragh Andersen (Team Sunweb) at the end of stage 13. He brings his Belgian team a fifth victory at La Vuelta 2017, the same record they achieved at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France this season. Chris Froome (Team Sky) avoided any slip-up to make sure...

interview01.09.2017

Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), best young rider: “It was a hard final, I didn't expect something like that. We thought it would be a sprint. That's how it ended up, but with a very small group. It was hard. Now we have to think about tomorrow. Fortunately we've been good today. (Fabio) Aru looks really good, for sure these two great stages will allow us to enjoy ourselves.”

interview01.09.2017

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC): “We were five strong guys at the beginning and then in the end… not so strong. We lost one guy immediately in the mountain because (Davide Villella) was just looking for the points. And then the other three were really good riders. With the right collaboration, it was a good opportunity. I'm happy because I prefer to follow my feelings. Today was a good day so why stay in the bunch? Tomorrow, a lot of guys will ask me if I go in the breakaway and I will...

interview01.09.2017

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), most aggressive rider: “The chances for the break were small, but with (Alessandro) De Marchi we were strong. We were really not bad riders. We had a chance. We tried to go as fast as possible in the last 30 kilometres, but it was difficult. We didn't have a big gap. Today I didn't even sprint for the mountain jersey, it's not an objective anymore.”

interview01.09.2017

Gianni Moscon (Team Sky): “It was pretty hard in the finale. We tried to stay at the front with (Chris) Froome. Then I was in a good position in the last km so why not try? It's a shame to finish 2nd. I improvised. You never know how the race goes. I felt good. We do obviously a lot of work for Froome. We believe in him 100%. Today was a good finale for me. There aren't many opportunities for me. This was really tough with the climb in the final 4km. Now we focus on the mountains.”

interview01.09.2017

Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors): “It went almost exactly as we planned. We had to control the whole day because Matteo (Trentin) is doing very well and he was the top favorite. We did a major job. In the finale, there was a pretty steep climb. Matteo was still in front with two guys. It's amazing how Matteo finished the job. You can have a strong team but if you don't have a finisher you're nowhere. He's so strong. It also gives us confidence to do the best we can to bring him in the...

interview01.09.2017

Chris Froome (Team Sky), overall leader: “I was just up there to make sure I wasn't getting any time splits but I was more excited to see where (Gianni) Moscon was in the finish. He did such a great job looking after me in the finale. I just said to him in the last km ‘go go go go go, try to win the stage'. If he wasn't doing so much work for me he would have had even a better chance. I saw how fresh, how strong he looked. I was in a safe position so I didn't need his help anymore. His...

interview01.09.2017

Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors), stage winner: “To be honest, it wasn't at all a finale to my taste. On paper it looked like it was less hard, especially from 3km to 2km to go. But we decided to go for it, the whole team except of course for (David) De La Cruz. The guys were incredible. Everybody did his job, gave 100% of what he had. I had to win. When the team is like this, you must finish off the work. It's amazing. I came in this race with confidence but I never expect something...

Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) dominated the sprint ahead of Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) to take his first stage win at La Vuelta 2017!

17:20

Last kilometre

Quick-Step Floors are working for Matteo Trentin...

17:19

Quick-Step control the attacks

Adam Hansen (Lotto Soudal) and then a rider from Team Sunweb tried to attack in the steep section 2.5km away from the finish. Bob Jungels (Quick-Step Floors) made sure no one gets away.

17:15

The last 5km

Quick-Step Floors still drive the bunch and set a very hard pace. Soon, they'll hit a pretty steep section with 3km to go.

17:13

De Marchi is caught

The peloton gets back to Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) with 7km to go.

17:12

Intermediate sprint

Results at Sevilla:

1. Alessandro De Marchi (BMC)

2. Christian Knees (Team Sky)

3. Connor Dunne (Aqua Blue Sport)

17:11

10km, 30 seconds

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) maintains a 30" lead over a peloton where many teams are jostling up for the front positions.

17:06

Roche punctures

Nicolas Roche (BMC) suffers a puncture and will have to chase hard to get back to the peloton. Teammates wait for him.

17:05

De Marchi goes alone

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) can't keep up with Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) at the front of the peloton. The gap with the peloton is down to 46" with 13.5km to go.

17:02

Modolo and Manzin also hope for a sprint

Sacha Modolo (UAE Team Emirates): “I'm well but these days (Matteo) Trentin is one step ahead of everyone else. In a sprint I could do well in theory. The finish is a bit uphill. When I have good legs, it's the kind of finale that suits me.”

Lorrenzo Manzin (FDJ): “Obviously I'm excited about today's stage. There haven't been many days for sprinters so I hope today it will end up in a sprint. There aren't many sprinters left. Lobato, a few other fast men… We'll see if they...

16:59

1 minute

The gap between the leading duo and the bunch is down to 1'08" with 19km to go.

Adam Blythe (Aqua Blue Sport) is one of the fastmen hoping for a bunch gallop today at Tomares: “There's a good chance for a sprint today if someone controls it. Hopefully Quick-Step will, we're praying that they do. We're doing fine, everyone is super happy, super motivated. We just got two more days to the rest day after this, and then it'll be the last push to Madrid. We'll go for it today, it's the only chance (for a sprint) until Madrid.”

16:35

The break maintains the gap

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) work together to maintain a 1'40" lead with 37km to go.

16:28

Van Garderen has good memories in the area

Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) spoke to lavuelta.com ahead of stage 13 finishing next to Sevilla: “I think this weekend will be the big moment for the GC. So far I haven't seen anyone looking particularly bad, we'll see how Froome is after this crash. The night team time trial at Sevilla in 2010 was my first Grand Tour, first stage, and it was a victory so it was quite nice.”

16:20

Lindeman and Bol crash

Bert Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo) and Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon) went down at the back of the bunch. They both get back on their bikes with abrasions.

16:18

50km to go

The gap stabilises around 1'35" as the peloton gets ready to put the hammer down.

16:10

Fraile abandons

Omar Fraile, who was suffering at the back of the race, withdraws from La Vuelta 2017. There are only three riders left racing for Dimension Data.

16:04

Pantano: "Contador is a great fighter ready to battle until the end"

Jarlinson Pantano (Trek-Segafredo): “Alberto (Contador) proves everyday what kind of a rider he is. We're sure there'll be more opportunities. The truth is I'm very happy to share his last race with Alberto. It's a very nice experience. He's a great leader, not only as a cyclist but as a person. We hope he can say farewell as he's doing. He shows he's a great fighter ready to battle until the end. Today is supposed to be an easy day but La Vuelta has been very fast so you can expect...

15:57

The gap decreases, the temperature rises

The attackers are trying to hold off the peloton in a very sunny day. The temperature is up to 37°C.

15:51

2 minutes

Quick-Step Floors, Cannondale-Drapac and LottoNL-Jumbo are the teams committing to the chase as the race enters the last 70km. The gap is down to 1'48".

15:43

Mate: "I'm recovering from my crash"

Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) received a prize from the local authorities at the start from Coin: “I'm delighted to be at home, on such a beautiful day and with so many people. It's an honour to have people acknowledging your achievements, furthermore at home. I want to enjoy the opportunity to thank the administrations who make it possible for us to welcome the world's greatest cyclists here and display our goods to the world. I'm recovering from my crash the other day (in the downhill from...

15:36

80km to go, under 3 minutes

The gap steadily decreases: 2'50" with 81km to go.

15:28

Fraile gets back

Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) enjoys an easier section to get back to the peloton. The gap with the breakaway is down to 3' with 86km to go.

15:22

Knees: “We have to look after Froomey”

Christian Knees (Team Sky) was at the front of the race with Marco Pinotti and Francisco Javier Aramendia the last time La Vuelta went through Tomares, during stage 7 in 2013. He can enjoy an easier day today although he still has to protect Chris Froome: “If I remember well, we did a climb before and it was quite harder than it is today. We hope for a more straightforward day for us. Of course I have a different role now, I don't' have the freedom to go on a breakaway. We have to look...

15:14

100km to go

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) are travelling through the feeding zone with a lead of 3'25".

15:09

Fraile in trouble

Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) is dropped at the back of the bunch. He managed to bounce back with a day at the front yesterday but the Spanish rider has been sick during many days at La Vuelta 2017.

15:01

2 hours

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) have maintained an average speed of 42.8km/h in the first two hours of racing. The gap is still around 3'40". The temperature is up to 33.5°C.

14:49

Kreder: “I was injured and I had to leave La Vuelta”

Michel Kreder (Aqua Blue Sport) finished last of stage 7 of La Vuelta 2013 when the race passed through Tomares on the way to Mairena del Aljarafe: “I was injured on that day and I had to leave La Vuelta a few days later. Now I feel good, healthy, in a good form. Today we go all in for Adam Blythe because he's our sprinter. We'll just try to set up a sprint for him. Last time, he was third (stage 2 at Gruissan) so we hope he can win now. I think different teams will commit to the chase....

14:41

The gap stays the same

The bunch controls the gap between 3'30" and 3'40" with still 125km to go to Tomares.

14:34

Lobato asks for medical assistance

Juanjo Lobato (LottoNL-Jumbo), one of the favorites for today's stage, is speaking with the race doctor.

14:31

Tomares has history on La Vuelta

Tomares welcomes a stage finish for the first time in La Vuelta history. The race already went through the town during stage 7 in 2013. Zdenek Stybar won ahead of Philippe Gilbert after an epic duel. Vincenzo Nibali was leading the general classification ahead of Chris Horner and Nicolas Roche.

Tomares is only separated from Sevilla, the capital of the province of Andalucia, by the Guadalquivir river. Sevilla has welcomed 14 stage finishes since the first edition of La Vuelta, in...

14:22

Cannondale also work

Cannondale-Drapac also take the front positions alongside Quick-Step Floors and LottoNL-Jumbo. Tom Van Asbroeck was third at Tarragona (stage 4).

14:13

Gap under control

The effort from Quick-Step Floors and LottoNL-Jumbo stabilises the gap around 4' 55km into the stage. Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac) has been caught.

14:06

Lobato: “Trentin is without a doubt the man to beat”

Juanjo Lobato's LottoNL-Jumbo is also working at the front of the bunch to control the breakaway. The Andalusian sprinter expressed high ambitions before the start: “For me, riding at home is an extra motivation. I'm happy La Vuelta has a finish next to my home and I hope for a good result. I live in Cadiz, 80km from the finish, but I have an apartment very close, at Fuengirola, so it's like I'm racing at home. A friend of mine has shot a video of the final and I've been able to watch it...

13:58

First hour

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) have covered 43.1km in the first hour of racing.

13:55

Villella waits for the peloton

Davide Villela (Cannondale-Drapac) has taken the early KOM points and is now waiting for the bunch. There is a 4'20" gap between the front of the race and the peloton after 42km.

13:51

Trentin: "I don't really like the finish, but we'll go for the victory anyway"

Matteo Trentin's (Quick Step Floors) teammates committed early to controlling the break. The Italian sprinter, already twice a stage winner at La Vuelta 2017, talked about his ambitions this morning: “The finish is tough, because it's not completely flat. We will try, it's not easy. We will see. As a team we will try to control the start, first of all, because it has been already a tough week. We have been flying in the first hours, so we hope that people start to feel tired and they have...

13:42

5 minutes at the summit

The gap increased in the climb. The peloton made it to the top of alto de Ardales with a delay of 4'50".

13:39

Villella goes for the KOM points

Results at alto de Ardales (km 27.2):

1. Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac), 3 pts

2. Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), 2 pts

3. Arnaud Courteille (FDJ), 1 pt

13:32

Courteille: "I don't want to stop there"

Arnaud Courteille is living his last days with FDJ, a team where he's spent his 7 years as a professional rider, as France Bleu Mayenne revealed on Thursday his contract won't be renewed for next year: “I've already had two top 10s at La Vuelta (10th on stage 7 and 9th on stage 10) but I don't want to stop there. A bunch sprint is not certain today and we have to keep going forward. I still believe in a stage victory.”

13:23

The climb of the day

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) atckle the alto de Ardales with a lead of 3'38".

13:17

Almost 4 minutes

The gap keeps increasing: 3'40" as the peloton reaches km 14.

13:11

Quick-Step already lead the peloton

Matteo Trentin's Quick-Step Floors set the pace in the bunch. The gap is up to 2'43" at km 13.

13:06

The break gets away

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) has joined Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ). The gap with the peloton is already up to 1'42" at km 9.

13:03

5 early attackers

After 6km, Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Arnaud Courteille (FDJ) open the road with a 23” lead over Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) and 47 over the peloton.

13:01

Guillen: "Malaga has given a lot to cycling"

Javier Guillen, general director of La Vuelta, talked about the start in the Malaga area one year ahead of the official start of La Vuelta from Malaga. “Today is an appetiser before the main plate next year. Malaga has given a lot to cycling, it has brought us big joy. Yesterday we had great day of cycling, full of emotions. I think it had been a lot since that many things happened in a stage. And today we have we have very nice start from Coin for the public, and that's always our goal....

12:57

It is on!

The 174 riders left in the race have made it to km 0.

12:37

On the way to the start

The bunch is headed to km 0.

12:28

Welcome

Welcome to the official live of stage 13 of La Vuelta 2017. There has been a few changes in the route, mostly in the final kilometres: the riders will cover 195.1km from Coin to Tomares, where a sprint is expected unless attackers manage to outsmart and outpower the bunch. The neutral start is set at 12:35, the proper start at 12:48.